Finished reading Pere Bouyer's book, The Meaning of the Monastic Life. Have notes to write for other blogs, but on this sleeting April morning have thoughts on the hermit life, thus far.
Bouyer quotes St. Jerome as saying that priests preach and monks weep. Hermits ought to weep, as well. Weep for the Church, for sinners, for souls, for one's own nothingness and difficulties in renouncing the "world." It is not easy to give up ownership, to not possess or have possessions. Yet, we are to utilize objects necessary in our earthly sojourn.
Am making inquiry into how to gift the lovely hermitage here, to the Diocese. To live here, to pay taxes and insurances, to make the mortgage payments, to do upkeep--but yet to live as a guest with the Church being the owner. When the hermit is dead or can no longer live here, the Bishop may sell it or use it for other hermits, if there are any needing a place, or to have it for guests, as a house of prayer. The clothing in the closet may be used daily, as one going into the costume department and dressing for the daily "performance." Blending in yet acting a part is part of the hidden life of a hermit. And the acting the part is that of acting only so as to not be noticed, such as would be a stand-in: no lines, no credits, and no pay. All is as borrowed from God.
For the hermit to be the eyes of the Church means to observe. To be the ears means to listen. To be the nose means to keep the nose to the grindstone, to focus, to sniff out any wrongs needing correcting within one's soul. The hermit, as extension of the monk (perhaps as closest sibling), may also at times be the lips of the Church, to speak out if and when necessary, and to pray. Of course, the priest prays; so this analogy deals with what traits should be prominent to each. Verily, the integral Catholic should be all these, as well, to the Church, but not to the degree, for example, required of the hermit--and not at all as the priest's duties through Holy Orders. But the depth of the seed planted for holiness, and the striving toward holiness: these are for all souls.
St. Sharbel, mystic hermit of Lebanon, pray for us!
